Traffic signaling system and signal



y 12, 1931 i R. J. LACKNER 1,805,406

TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM AND SIGNAL Filed May 15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 12, 1931- I R. J. LACKNERQ 1,805,406

TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM AND SIGNAL May 12, 1931. R. J. LACKN ER TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM AND SIGNAL run Lilli May 2, 1931. R. J. LACKNER 1,805,406

TRAFFIC SIGNALING SYSTEM AND SIGNAL File M y 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE? i" f Boar: .1. momma, or ozoma ram-m Yoax, assrerton. 'ro manna rnonuc'rs conrona'rron, or BROOKLYN, nnw roux, a conroiwrron or nmwm" j'rnarrrc sronannm sys'rmc urn sronu. Y

Application flied Kay 18,

i This invention relates to a traflio signaling system and signal and seeks, among other objects, to provide, a signaling system for the regulation of tr'aflic at street intersections or the like and which will tend to reduce vehicular traflic accidents and prevent into pedestrians.

I a further object of the invention is to profr vide a signal which may be operated to simultaneously display red signal lights to traffic moving onone street and green signal lights to 'traflic moving on an intersecting" street and vice versa, and wherein the signal lights willbe readily visible from practically any angle.

' A further object is to provide a signal which ma be combined with the usual street lighting Ii iztums of a .city or town-and swung from or otherwise attached to the lamp posts at the intersections of streets, thereby eliminating the necessity for separate pedestals for the signal.

. Still; another object of the invention is to provide asignal wherein a number of the signals alonga street, for instance, may be connected with a single control switch so that of said signals may be manually operated from a single point or, wherein, if preferred, the signals may all be connected with an automatic circuit closer timed to properly alternate the energization of the signal lights and so permit alteration in the movement of trafiic at the street-intersections.-

Still' another object of the invention is to providea traific signal which may be economically produced, which be sturdy in construction as'well as pleasing in appearance, and wherein the transparencies employed may be readily removed or replaced.

The invention seeks, as a furtherobject,

to provide, in conjunction with the1tr'afiic signal, a .car flagging signal which may be used by any pedestriande'siring to stop and board a street car and wherein the flagging signal will be visible to vehicular traffic so that such traific may stop to permit the pedestrian to safely cross from the sidewalk to the street car.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide, inconjunction with the =rection of the arrows,

mas. Seriallo. 30,041. g 7

al on each street car,

t'raflic signal, a stop si be energized when a which stop signal passenger sounds the usual annunciator on car,'so thatvehicular' trafiic invthe rear of the car will be signaled to stop, whereby the passenger, after alighting, may safely cross om the street car to the sidewalk.

the car for signaling the motorman to stop the Other and incidental objects will appear line 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the diand particularly showmg the mounting of the transparencies employed.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing perspectivgview showing my the circuit connections of a plurality of the I trafiic signals.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections of the flagging signal. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the clrcuit connections of the car stop signal.

Figure -7 is a vertical sectional view showing a slightly modified form of traflic signal.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing a fur ther modification. 1

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view on the line 9'-9 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 10 is a side elevation showing a further modification.

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view on the-line 11-11 of Figure 10, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 12 is a side elevation showing still another modification of the invention.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view on the line 13-13 of Figure 12, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

' Figure 14 is an elevation showing a further modified structure.

Referrin now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 an 3 of the drawings, I have shown my improved traflic signal suspended from a conventional lamp st at intersecting streets. In the instal ation of the signal, separate or individual posts or pedestals may, however, be provided for the signal, but by combining the signal with a street lamp, the customary lamp posts, such as typically lllustrated at 10, may be employed to support the signal, thus eliminating the ex ense of separate posts or pedestals for the signal.

As shown in Figure 2, the signal includes a casing comprising a flat top ring 11, m'ating flat center rings 12 and 13, and a flat bottom ring 14 of substantially uniform diameter. Surrounding the top ring is a conical roof 15 crimped to said top ring at its periphery, and formed on the top ring at its inner circumference is a depending flange 16.

Formed on the center ring 12 at its outer periphery is a de nding flange 17 crimped to the ring 13, an formed on the ring 12 at its inner circumference is a channel 18. Depending from tharing 13 at its inner circumference is a flange 19 and secured to the bottom ring 14 is a stepped-ring 20 having an upstanding flange 29' and provided with suitable ventilating op'enings. Extending between the rings 11 and 12 are quadrantly spaced vertical posts 21 abutting the flanges 16 and 18 of said rings, and extending between the rings 13 and 20 are alined posts 22 abutting the flanges 19 and 20 of the latter rings. The posts, like the rings, are formed of sheet metal doubled to produce overlaping thicknesses in turn bent to form lateral Ease flanges 22' atthe inner edges of the posts.

Extending through the apex of the roof 15 axially of the signal casing is a conduit 23 to which is fixed a plate 24 having an upturned flange 25 freely received by the channel 18 of the ring 12. The plate 24 thus forms a partition dividing the easing into upper and lower signal compartments and, as will be observed, the flange 25 of said plate is preferably provided with'ventilating openings 26. Fixed to the lower end portion of the conduit 23 is a plate 27 which is snugly received within the ring 20 and. provides a closure at the lower end of the casing. The conduit 23 is connected with the" supporting arm of the post 10 in any approved manner, for securing the signal to said arm, and

mounted at the lower end of said conduit is a lamp socket 28 mounting a lamp 29. This lamp is connected in the circuit of the lighting system of the city or town employing the signal and is intended to furnish street illumination. Fixed to the bottom plate 14 at its lower side are brackets 30 and removably standin Three of the si sup orted by said brackets is a, globe 31 for sai lamp. 7

Closing the upper signal com artment of the casing is a pair of oppositely 'sposed red colored transparencies 32, and a pair of oppositely disposed green transparencies. 33. These transparencies rest against the base flanges of the posts 21 and are curved transversely to impart a cylindrical. shape to said compartment. The lower compartment is, as shown in Figure 1, closed by a like pair of red colored transparencies 34 disposed beneath the green transparencies of the upper compartment, and a like pair of green colored transparencies 35 disposed beneath the red trans arencies of the upper compartment. Stra dling the posts 21 are channel-shaped clamping members 36 having base flanges 37 overly'ng the'vertical margins of said transparencies, and extending through the posts and through said members are bolts 38 securin the clamping members in sition.

ltlounted upon the plate 24 1s a pair of a propriate lamp sockets 39, and removab y fixed in said sockets are signal lamps 40 upwithin the upper signal compartment. s brought out 1n Figure 3, the late 24 also carries a second pair of suitable amp sockets 41 which are presented downwardly,

and removablv fixed in these sockets are signal lamps 42 deppnding into the lower signal compartment. airs of lamps are employed so that should one lamp of either pair burn out, the other lamp Wlll remain in service. Thus, when the lam s 40 are energized, the transparencies 32 o the upper signal compartment will display red signal lights to traflic moving along one street, for instance, while the transparencies 33 will display green signal lights to traflic moving along an intersecting street. Furthermore, as will be seen, when the lam s 42 are energized, the transparencies 34 0? the lower signal com artment will display red signal lights to t e traflic moving along the latter street mentioned while the transparencies 35 will display green signal lights to the traflic moving along the former street. Thus, by alternatel energizing the pairs of lam s 40 and 42, t e proper signals will be disp ayed for regulatm or controlling traflic 'at the intersection o the streets so as to permit the traflic to move first along one street and then along the other.

,In Figure 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated the manner in which a number of the signals may be electrically connected and operated by an automatic circuit closer. Any approved circuit closer may be employed and I ave diagrammatically shown a contact wheel ofsuch a circuit closer at 43. This wheel is provided with segmental short and long contacts 44 and'45 and mounted to cooperate with said contacts is a brush 46.

als are diagrammatically illustrated .at 4 and electrically connected lwiei sides a 5113f a." impeof the si als'is'a feed wire 48 in which is inter ose a'suitable switch 49. Connecting ort contact 44 with 'op' ositencorre 50 and connectin the opposltecorrespond-.

ing sides of the am so the lower signal compartments with t e contact 45 is a wire 51'. Leading to the street lamps 29 of the signals is a feed1.wire52 in which-is'interposed a switch 53'and connected to all of ing a circuit through the lamps of the lower said lam s is a return wire 54 connected with the brus I 46 a wire 55. Thus, as will be seen, when theswitch 49 is closed and the wheel 43 is turned, the brush will cooperate with the contact 44 for closing a cir-' cuit through the lamps of the upper signal compartments ofall of the signals and will then cooperate with the contact 45 for clossignal compartments of all of the signals. The length of the contacts 44 and 45 and the speed of rotation of the wheel 43, will, of course, determine the relative length of time the lampsof the upper and lower signal compartments are illuminated while the length of thespaces between the ends of the contacts will determine the length of time the signal lamps are extinguished. By making one of the contacts of the wheel longer than the other,- as shown, trafiic may be allowed to move along one street, for instance, a greater length of time than along-intersecting streets. Accordingly, as will be seen,- the contact wheels of the circuit closer may be designed so that the circuit closer will control the signals, as may be desired, to'

regulate traflic under given conditions. If preferred, an appropriate switch may be substituted in lieu of the automatic circuit closer so that the several signals maybe manually.

controlled and, preferably, the street lamps 29 of the signals are connected in a separate circuit, as shown, so that said lampsmay be controlled independently of the signal lamps:

In conjunction with the signal, I also provide a direction indicator 56. This indicator may be of sheet metal and is fixed to the 'peripheral flange of the bottom ring 14 of the signal casing to depend from said flange at one side of the globe 31. Accordingly, said indicator will be readily visible and may be in the shape of an arrow, as shown, or other approved shape, for indicating a given direction. Furthermore, the indicators may bear a key number so that a tourist, by observing the key numbers, may pursue a given route.

I also provide in conjunction with the.

trafiic signal, a car flagging signal which is disposed at street intersections and may, as suggested in Figure 1, be mounted upon'the usual lamp posts 10. This flagging signal includes a'ca sing b'l or; 1

post and is closed 1) wise secured to the red colored transparencies "'58:";v Arrange within the casing is, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 5, a signal lamp 59 and.

mounted upon the post,'-within reach of edestrians,- .is an appropriate switch. 60. hus, pedestrians wishing, to board a car, ma close theswitch 60, .wh'enjthe lamp 59. a1 will diS Kc estrian may street car mm. "The stop signal is mounted exteriorly of the car near the rear end thereof and includes a casing 62 bolted or otherwise secured to the car. Closing the casing are transparencies 63 and mounted within the casing is, as diagrammatically shown in- Figure 6, a lamp 64. The button switches of the usual annunciator signal of the car are indicated at 65 while the annunciator is indicated at 66, and, as will be observed, the

annunciator and lamp 64 are connected in circuit with said switches. Accordingly,

when a passenger closes. any one of the switches to sound the annunciator for sig-. nalin the operator of the car to stop the car, t e lamp 64 will be energized for displaying a red signal light at therear of the car externallythereof. Thus, vehicular traffic traveling on the street in a direction with the car, will be signaled to stop, so that such traific will be brought to a standstill with the car, whereby the passenger alighting from the car may safely cross from. the car to the sidewalk.

In Figure 7 of the drawings, I have illus: trated a slightly modified'form of traific signal which is designed for use independently of any street lighting system. The modified structure is identical with the structure shown in detail in Figures 2 and 30f the drawings, with the exception that the socket 28 and lamp 29 are omltted as is also the plate 27. The bottom ring 14, globe 31, and associated parts, are also omitted and in lieu of the globe 1 employ an ornamental metallic bottom. globe 67 which is bolted or otherwise fixed to the bottom flange of the ring 20.

y In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, I have illustrated a further modified form of trafiic signal having upper and lower signal compartments 68 in each of which are arranged signal-lamps 69, and radiating from each of saidcompartments is a set of frusto-pyramidal reflectors 70 closed at'their outer ends by cleartransparencies 71. Mounted at the inner ends of one air of reflectors of each set are red colored enses 72 and mountedat the inner ends of the other pair of reflectors of each set are green colored lenses 73. The red lenses of the lower compartment are arranged beneath the green lenses of the u per compartment while the green lenses 0 the lower compartment are arranged beneath the red lenses of the upper compartment. Thus, as will be seen, the signal may be ope ated in the manner previously describe in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention, for controlling traflic' at intersecting. streets. At the upper end of the signal is a roof 74 while at t e lower end of the signal is a globe 75 in which, if desired, may be mounted a street lamp, or said globe may be omitted and a globe like the globe 67 used.

In Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, I have illustrated a further modified form of the invention wherein the signal is provided with upper and lower si a1 compartments 76 and sets of reflectors 7 as in the prior modification, but said reflectors are shorter while the side walls of the reflectors are continued to form wings 78. Closing one pair of reflectors ofeach set is a air of red colored transparencies 79 and closing the other pair of reflectors of each set is a pair of green colored transparencies 80. The transparencies of the lower set are staggered with respect to the transparencies of the upper set and mounted in each of the compartments 76 is a plurality of signal lamps 81 so that the signal may be operated in the same manner'as the preferred embodiment of the invention. At the u per end of the signal is a roof 82 while at t e lower end of the signal is a globe 83 in which may be mounted a street lamp, or, if preferred, a globe like the globe 67 may be employed.

In Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings, I have illustrated still another modification of the invention wherein the signal is formed with a rectangular sheet metal casing 82 divided into upper and lower signal compartments, and mounted in the side walls of the casing at each of said compartments is a pair of red colored lenses 83 and a pair of green colored lenses 84. Overhanging said lenses are hoods 85 and, of course, the lenses of the lower compartment are staggered with respect to the lenses of the upper compartment. Mounted in each of the signal compartments are signal lamps 86 so that, as will be understood, this modified form of signal may be operated in the same manner as the preferred construction. The signal casing is provided at its upper end with a roof 87 while at the lower end of the casing is mounted a globe 88 in which may be mount ed a street lamp,- or, if preferred, a globe thereto and having In Figure 14, I have illustrated a further modification particularly designed for use as an end-of-street signal. A post 89 having an arm 90 is emplo ed. The signal is suitably connected to sai arm and includes a preferably cylindrical metal casing 91 providing a signal compartment 92 in which is mounted a lam 93. At the lower endof the casing is ap ate 94 mounting a globe 95, while at the upper end of the casing is a roof 96, and projecting from the casing are triangularshaped pointers 97. If preferred, a single pointer may be em loyed and mounted at the forwardside of t as casing is a red colored transparency 98. Thus, when the lamp 98 is energized, a red colored signal light will be dis layed while the pointers 97 will indicate t e direction in which the. traflic must turn.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

In a traflic signal, a casing, a post extending vertically in said casing and constituting a conduit for'conductor wires, said casing being divided into upper and lower compartments and consisting of a hood secured to said post and projecting radially therefrom, a head for the upper compartment disposed about said ost in spaced relation there'- to and having its outer marginal portion joined to said hood and its inner marginal portion formed with a depending flange, a ottom for the upper chamber fitting about said post and formed with an annular shoulder s aced from its outer margin, a disk secure about said post and supporting said bottom, a head for the lower compartment disposed about the post in spaced relation its outer marginal portion secured to the ottom of the upper chamber and its inner marginal portion formed with a depending flange spaced about said disk, a bottomfor' the lower compartment carried by said post and having an upstanding annular flange, lamp sockets extendin through openings in the disk and bottom 0 the upper compartment to support bulbs in the compartments, transparent wall sections for the com artments bearing against the flanges and s oulder, and securmg means for the wall sections between adjacent side edges ROLPH J. LACK B. 

